Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1290311
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 26, 2020 31 NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY … On freshman cornerback Clarence Lewis: "He's not hurried. His movements are very fluid, he plays the ball very well. His timing is excellent. He's got all the tools and the traits that you want in an outstanding corner. I just think that he's got a really bright future. We feel good with him out there on the field. There were a couple of times where we might have wanted him to tighten up as he covered a little bit to the field [side]. "[Cornerbacks coach] Mike [Mickens] talked to him a couple of times about his angles on tackling, but he's just a smooth and very confident player." On Notre Dame's 20th consecutive home victory: "I'm also excited about the consistency that this team and these seniors, in particular, have shown in their 20th consecu- tive home win, which sets the modern-day record. We are very proud of our guys, and what they've been able to accomplish. "The consistency to do that just says so much about them and their work ethic and what they do on a day-to- day basis." On the performance of fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book: "Ian was better today. I thought he managed our offense very well. He's not a manager, but he man- aged to do things that we asked him to do. He got us off to a good start with some completions down the field. A couple of balls, I thought in the red zone that he could have been a little bit more finesse with. But all in all, it was a really good performance; I thought he led our team to the kind of fast start that we wanted. He was really tuned in. "I thought he had a great week of practice. I really liked his demeanor. He really worked on his pocket presence. I liked his calmness in the pocket. It was a really good progression from where he was last week." NOTRE DAME FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR QUARTERBACK IAN BOOK … On players needing to be prepared to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic: "I've been saying this for my whole time here that Notre Dame does a great job of being ready for the next-man-up mentality. Coach Kelly brought that up early in the week. Especially with COVID going on, the next guy's got to be ready, and we saw it today on both sides of the ball. That's what it's about here at Notre Dame. I was extremely proud of those guys to be ready. "That's how it's going to be all year while we're going through this thing. Again, I saw it on defense with Jack Kiser. And I saw it on offense with some new receivers in there. It's going to be like that all year. You just got to be ready for your shot, and you got to go there and prove it." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR SAFETY HOUSTON GRIFFITH … On the challenges of playing safety: "I felt like the challenge is just adapting to playing in a new spot, getting comfortable and just understanding that you are the back end of the defense. "You have to be able to control the defense, as well as get guys lined up and be on top of your calls and just be accountable for everything that occurs." NOTRE DAME SOPHOMORE LINEBACKER JACK KISER … On starting at against South Florida and receiving the game ball: "Notre Dame is the peak of the mountain in terms of college football, especially in Indiana. Wearing a golden helmet, just to be on the team, those are dreams of many kids in the state of Indiana. "So to put the helmet on, walk down that staircase and then get on that field, it's surreal. Then to actually take live snaps and contribute to the defense and contribute to a win, that's just amazing. To get the game ball, you just don't think that things like that will happen to you." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR TIGHT END TOMMY TREMBLE … On why he loves blocking as a tight end: "I just love contact. I love playing the game of football. It's just pure passion for me. Every time I'm on the field, I just want to be dominant, and I try my best." On if he enjoys blocking as much as making a big catch: "I promise you, it feels just as good. I love doing it." — Andrew Mentock FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Sophomore linebacker Jack Kiser, an Indiana native, said it was surreal to make his first career start in a Notre Dame uniform. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS